Record changer



June 26, 1951 w, ALBRECHT ET AL 2,558,474

RECORD CHANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 IN V EN TORS ALBERT M /4L BRECHZ' 501% J MAST/YE) @Mi k June 26, 1951 A. w. ALBRECHT ET AL 2,558,474

RECORD CHANGER Filed Nov. 14, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 201 OFF IN VEN TORS AL BEET 111418250; EDMJ MAST/Vi) flET/IUE C 751V 017E.

BYQM L M June 26, 1951 A. w. ALBRECHT Emu.

RECORD CHANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 INVENTORS ALBERTMAL/SEECHT EDMJ/I/ASTNEY 427 /10; 0. mv oms WM i mm June 26, 1951 w, ALBRECHT ET AL 2,558,474

RECORD CHANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 ALBfRTMAZ BREW/7, EQMJMASTNE) ART/{U2 c TEN 04725 by WM Q 16% Patented June 26, i951 RECORD CHANGER Albert W. Albrecht, McHenry, Edward James Mastney, Berwyn, and Arthur C. Ten Cate, Downers Grove, Ill., assignors to Oak Mfg. 00.,

Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 785,856

This invention relates to an automatic record changer and provides a construction which is simple and efilcient. While a large number of automatic changers have been designed and manufactured, they are all characterized by a large number and complexity of parts. This has resulted in substantial expense for tooling in connection with quantity production of such changers. In addition, the complexity of the changer has made it expensive to assemble and has given rise to difficulties in the field requiring frequent service. As a rule, most record changers have numerous adjustments therein which increase the cost of assembly and which are a fertile source of trouble when in use.,

A construction embodying the present invention is characterized by simplicity and economy of parts. Such a construction is further characterized by the use of stampings which may readily be made suificiently accurate in quantity production so that few, if any, adjustments are necessary in the changer as assembled.

The invention, in general, provides a motor drive on a turntable in accordance with usual practice. Associated with the turntable is a planetary drive which is normally inoperative but which may be tripped into driving engagement with the turntable. This planetary drive carries a plurality of cams which cooperate with suitable means to provide for the feeding of a record and operation of a tone arm as customary in record changers. The structure embodying the invention is of the type wherein a stack of records are stored above the turntable with a stationary bent spindle threading the central aperture in the records. Feeding of individual records is accomplished by proper action against the edge of the bottom record of a stack so that this bottom record may be free to drop on the turntable. In accordance with general practice, the changer is adapted to handle a stack of either ten or twelve-inch records.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a record changer embodying the invention with the turntable partly broken away. Figure 2 is a sectional view on broken line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan View similar to Figure 1 with the baseboard and certain parts broken away and the mechanism shown as being tripped to initiate a changer cycle. Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a sectional detail on line 66 of Figure 3. Figure 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 3. Figure 8 is a partly sec- 7 Claims. (Cl. 274-) tional and partly elevation view of the planetary gear drive. Figure 9 is an exploded view of the parts making up the view of Figure 8, the spindle being omitted. Figure 10 is a sectional detail 1 on line Ill-40 of Figure 9. Figure 11 is a sectional view on line IIH of Figure 9. Figure 12 is a sectional view on line l2-l2 of Figure .9. Figure 13 is a sectional view on line l3-l3 of Figure 9. Figure 14 is an enlarged view of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 3 to show some details of the various parts pivoted at the king pin. Figure 15 is a sectional detail on line I5--I5 of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a sectional detail on line Iii-l6 of Figure 14. Figure 17 is a plan view of the record feeding member in various positions to illustrate a record feeding cycle. Figure 18 is a side view of the record feeding member of Figure 17 Figure 19 is an enlarged detail of the bottom record engaging part.

. The changer comprises baseboard or motor board l0 preferably of sheet steel or the like upon which the entire apparatus is mounted. Baseboard lll may have any desired shape and, as shown here, is generally rectangular having circular well Ii in the central portion thereof. Centrally disposed in well I l is spindle 12 having straight portion I3, the upper end of which has tapered bentportion l4 terminating in ofiset tip portion I5. Spindle i2 is stationary and is supported in sleeve l1 rigidly attached to well ll. Sleeve ll hasset screw 18 adapted to bear against flattened face 19 of portion [3 on the spindle. The spindle is mounted so that bent portion I4 extends toward corner 20 of the baseboard.

Turntable 25 has central portion 26 and depending flanged rim 21 adapted to fit within well ll. Turntable 25is driven by rubber idler 29 normally adapted to be spring pressed against the inside surface of flanged rim 21. Idler 29 also bears against motor shaft 30 of motor 3|. The motor is carried on plate 32 bolted to well I I. Idler 29 is spring pressed against motor shaft 30 and flange 21 in accordance with usual practice. Well II is cut away to provide clearance for the motor and driving elements.

Motor 31 is of the type used in phonograph work, preferably a shaded pole motor adapted to run at a predetermined constant speed. Suitable switching means controlled by button 341 are provided. I Tone arm 36 of any desired construction is provided. This tone arm is pivotally mounted at 31 for vertical movement. Pivots 3'! are carried by rotatable sleeve 38 extending through a suitable aperture in baseboard l0. Disposed within sleeve 38 is pin 39 adapted to be moved vertically for elevating and dropping the tone arm. Pin 39 cooperates with screw fill adjustably disposed in the tone arm for elevating the tone arm.

It is understood that the axis of pin 39 does not intersect the axis of pivot 31 and, in this instance, the axisof the pin is forward of pivot axis 31 so that elevation of pin 39 will result in elevation of the tone arm. Bushing 4| rigidly supported on baseboard I is provided for maintaining the tone arm in proper relation with respect to sleeve 38 and pin 39. Disposed around the bottom portion of sleeve 38 below baseboard I0. is bushing 45 rigidly keyed thereto. Bushing 44 carries actuating arm 45 havingdepending pin 46 at one end thereof nearest to well [I andhaving arcuate portion 41 and ends 18 and 49 remote from the well. (Figure 3.)

Carried by the motor board is post 53 (Figure 4), this post being parallel and generally to the rear of pin 39. Post 50 is so disposed as to cooperate with arcuate'portion 41. .Ends 48 and 49 of the arcuate portion cooperate with the post to provide extreme limits for the rotary movement of sleeve 33. Post 50 adjacent the bottom end thereof. is provided with annular slot for a purpose'that will be apparent later.

Disposed in the corner of the motor board adjacent the tone arm pivot is a rotary cam assembly for feeding records. Thus, motor board l0 carries journal portion 60 (Figure 2) within which is disposed pin 61- for rotary movement. The journal axis and pin are inclined from the vertical toward the spindle axis, this being the axisof straight portion 13. The angle of inclination may vary and, in practice, may be of the order of about ten degrees. Disposed above journal portion 60' is auxiliary journal portion 62'. Portion 62 has projection 63 cooperating with a slot in journal portion 60 whereby auxiliary portion 62* may be located in either one of twopositions, these positions being 180 degrees apart. Pin 6| extends up'into auxiliary journal 62 and carries gear 65 at the upper end of the-pi-n. Between gea-r 6-5 and a shoulder in journal portion 62 spring 66 is disposed around the pin to bias auxiliary portion @32- down against journal portion 60. Portion 62 carries pivot pin 61' parallel to but offset from pin Bl'. Pivot pin 61 has pinion 68 disposed therearound and meshing with gear 65. Pinion 68- andgear 65 have a one to one gear ratio. Thus, when portion 62 isturned 180 degrees with respect to part- 60, it will be found that pinion 68' is turned 360*degrees with respect to its own axis. Figure 1 shows the two possible positions of" this part for two record sizes; the dotted line position being for a inch record. Pinion Ellis rigidly attached to member Ill, functioning as a combined record supporting and feeding member. Member 10 has central portion H and stepped ledges l2 and 13. Ledges 12 and 13 have coincident leading edges 14 and 15. The step between ledge 12 and ledge 13 is generally perpendicular to the planes of these ledges and formstwo arcuate surfaces 16 and 11 joined by intermediate cam surface 18. The height of these surfaces is no greater than the thickness of 'a record. It will be noted that surface 11 has a greater radius than surface 16. The width of ledge 13 should be great enough to support the edge portion of arecord while the angularextent of ledge 13- should-be such that the trailing edgewill'clear a record when member 10 has been moved to its dotted position in Figure 17. The leading portion of ledge 12 bounded by surface 16 should be narrow enough so that the edge of a record may bear against the surface. The trail ing portion of ledge 12 bounded by surface 11 should be wide enough so that this trailing portion may slide under the record above the bottom one and support the same. The angular extent of ledge 12 shouldbesuch that the trailing portion will still be under a record when member i6 is in its dotted position.

The step ledges are generally flat and lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of pin 6| However, the trailing portion of the ledge has. surface 86 droppin down toward the turntable (Figures 2 and 18). Trailing portion of the lower ledge may be substantially flat and somewhat lower than the plane of the ledge proper.

Member 10 carries record retaining block 82, havingactive face 83 for bearing against the edge of a stack of records in position during the feeding action. In the normal position of member 15}, record retaining part 82' has active face 83 opposed to spindle l2. Face 83 extends down and merges. with. surface 16 at any desired part thereof, the heightof face 83; being equal to the thickness of a stack of at least three. or four records. Additional records above. the bottom three orfour of a stack need not. engage face 83.

Record feeding action is obtained by rocking member 7 0 clockwise as seen in Figures 1 andll, so that the edge of a bottom. record which normally engages surface 16 is engaged by camv surface 18. This causes the bottom record of a stack to be moved in its v own plane towardspindle [2. Further turning movement of member "Ill brings surface l! into engagement with the edge of the bottom record to. maintain the record in feeding position. sloping surface Bllof lower ledge 13 aids in this feeding action. Records above the bottom are supportedby the outer partof ledge 12. When member IE reaches the dotted line. position in Figure 17 the bottom record drops. Reversemovement of member 10 in counter-clockwise direction returns the sameto its normal full line position as-seen in Figure l'lfor a new record feeding cycle. The means for accomplishing the above oscillation will bedescribed in detail later. It isunderstood that-the means engaging a diametrically opposed part of the bottom record, to be described later, aids in the record feeding action.

Disposed incorner 26 of the motorboard is a means for supporting the edge portion of the bottom record of a stack at a point on the record diametrically opposed to the region of support offered byrecord supporting member 10. 7

This means comprises-sleeve 9i] rigidly supported on motor board [0 in any suitable fashion. This sleeve has top face 9i having slot 92 therein. Resting on top face SH is record supporting member generally designated by numeral 93 and having base portion 94. Base portion 34 has locks engaging slots*92 for rotatively locking the record supporting member in position. Record supporting member93 has rigidly attached thereto pin 95 extending downwardly as seen in Figure 2, through sleeve- 90, andbelow themotorboard. Pin 95 carries retainin disk' 96- at the bottom end thereof, and hasspring 91' around the pin between washer 96-andthe bottom of the motorboard. It will be evident that spring 91 biases record retaining member 93 downwardly against sleeve 90. e

Member 93 may be-pulled vertically up against the'bias due'to spring 91 and be locked in one of two positions 180 .degrees apart. In either of these positions, one being for 10-inch records and the other for l2-inch records, record supporting member 93 extends generally radially of the turntable. Record supporting member 93 comprises an elongated body having slot I along the top thereof. Record supporting member 93 also has record engaging slots IN and I02 at the opposite ends of the body. These slots are somewhat larger than the thickness of a single record but less than two records. Member 93 has end faces I03 and I04 below record engaging slots IOI and I02, these faces extending substantially perpendicular to the motorboard. It will be noted that member 93 is mounted eccentrically with the axis of pin 95 being substantially closer to one of the slots than to the other. In this particular instance the axis of pin 95 issufiiciently close to slot IOI so as to pass through the same, this being unimportant in itself. Slot IOI is lower with respect to the motor board than record engaging slot I02. When member 93 is turned 1.80 degrees from the full line position to the dotted position shown in Figure 1, slot I02 will be in operative position and will be about one inch nearer to the axis of portion I5 of the spindle. Thus it will be evident that record supporting member 93 in the full line position may be used for 12-inch records while -inch records may be handled in the dotted position of the member.

Member 93 has fingers I06 and I0! pivotally mounted at I08 and I09 respectively for vertical movement in slot I00. Spring IIO acting on both fingers normally biases the fingers so that the tips bear against shoulders H3 and H4 of the record engaging slots. These fingers are so shaped as seen in the drawing as to move upwardly to clear a record engaging slot upon edgewise movement of a record into the slot. This permits only the bottom record to slide into dropping position, to clear ledge 13 and slide down the spindle and away from the slot and drop into playing position. The means for moving the record feeding means and tone arm previously described are now set forth. Referring to Figures 8 to 13 inclusive, sleeve I! has portion I thereof disposed above the well wall.- Portion I20 is finished to provide recess I2I into which is disposed ball bearing retainer I22, carrying a number of ball bearings. Immediately disposed around straight portion I3 of the spindle is sleeve I24 rigidly carried by turntable 26, sleeve I24 being normally, adapted to rotate around spindle I2 .during operation. Sleeve I24 has portion I25 extending downwardly and terminating just above ball bearing I22. Disposed around the outside of portion I25 is sun gear I26, having bottom face I21 riding on the ball bearings. Sun gear I26 carries plate I28 at the top thereof upon which plate is mounted curved detent arm I30, pivoted at I3I and having free end I32. Detent arm I30 has tooth I33 extending inwardly therefrom. Detent arm I30 is biased to an inward position by spring I35 acting on pin I36. The range of travel of arm I30 around pivot pin I 3I is determined by pin I36 extending into aperture I31 in plate I28.

Ratchet wheel I40 is rigidly carried by sleeve I24 at the upper portion of part I25 thereof. .As indicated in Figure 10, ratchet wheel I40 has a number of teeth, here shown as four, although the number could be increased or decreased as desired. These teeth are shaped to engage in one direction of movement withrespect to tooth 433. The travel of arm I30 with respect to plate I28 is so adjusted that its inwardly biased position as shown in Figure 11 is such as to dispose tooth I33 in engaging position with the teeth of ratchet wheel I40. It might be stated that normally arm I30 is maintained in its outward position against its spring bias so that tooth I33 does not engage ratchet wheel I40, in this position the turntable rotating freely and no cycling occurring.

Disposed between plate I28 and the bottom of well II is a planetary gear assembly shown in Figure 12. This assembly comprises mounting plate I43 having ring gear I44. Mounting plate I43 is rigidly supported on well II by posts 3a. Engaging ring gear I44 are a plurality of planetary gears, here shown as three, I45 to I" inclusive. These planetary gears rotate around pivot pins I54 between cover plates I! and I5I on opposite sides of mounting plate I43. Disposed above plate I5I as seen in Figures 8 and 9 is eccentric plate I53. This may comprise a circular plate eccentrically mounted with respect to the planetary gear assembly. Eccentric plate I53 is rotatively locked to the planetary gear assembly by any suitable means, such as pins I54. If desired, eccentric plate I53 may be made integral with cover plate I5I. Disposed above eccentric plate I53, as seen in Figures 8 and 9, and rigidly attached thereto is cycling cam plate I56, which may be generally circular except for a portion cut out to leave generally straight edge I51.

Disposed around eccentric plate I53 is eccentric ring I provided with tail piece I6I. It is preferred to provide retaining ears I62 on eccentric ring I60 to engage the top face of eccentric plate I53 adjacent the edge to prevent the ring from dropping down out of position as seen in Figures 8 and 9, for example. Cycling cam plate I56 may be relied upon for limiting the upward movement of the ring in case the changer happens to be turned upside down.

Under normal conditions when the turntable is rotating and no changer operation is desired, suitable means engaging free end. I32 of detent arm I30 maintains this arm in an outer position so that tooth I33 will not engage ratchet wheel I40. In this outward position, the entire planetary gear assembly is at rest. Upon initiation of la changer cycle, a finger, to be described later, clears free end I32 of arm I30 and permits this arm to move inwardly, as seen in Figure 11, in response to its spring bias. Rotation of the turntable and ratchet wheel I40 brings tooth I33 into engagement with one of the teeth of I40. Thus a driving connection is established between ratchet wheel I40 and plate I28. This turns sun gear I26 in a clockwise direction looking down upon the changer. Rotation of sun gear I26 causes rotation of planetary gears I45 to I41 inclusive. These planetary gears engage ring gear I44 on stationary plate I43 and, as a result, force the planetary gear assembly and eccentric I53 to rotatein a clockwise direction.

Eccentric I53 actuating eccentric ring I60 is a means for causing the changer operation proper. The full line position of the parts in Figure 12 shows them in a normal rest position. When cycling occurs, the parts move to the dotted line position and return to their full line normal position. Cycling cam I56, once it starts to turn, serves to maintain the driving connection between detent arm I30 and ratchet wheel I40 until a complete operating cycle occurs. The ratio between sun gear I26 and planetary gears I45 to I41 inclusive will determine the number of turns on stationary plate Hi3.

spasm;

7 plate I28 must make for a complete changer cycle. At the beginning of a, changer cycle, free end I 32 of detent arm I30 overlies straight-portion I51 of cam I59. Once the mechanism starts tdoperate for a changer cycle,-plate I28 turns, with respect to cam I55, in a clockwise direction. After a number of turns of plate I28, cam: plate I 56iand plate I28 again assume the starting position sothat free end I32 overlies straight por' 'tion- I51 of the cam. This signals the end of a changer cycle.

. Cooperating with free end I32 of detent arm I30 is finger I65 and auxiliary spring finger I66. As seen in Figure 3, spring finger I66 is in advance of finger I65- wi-th respect to clockwise rotation of the turntable looking down upon the changer. The spring finger is provided to kick detent I32 clear of ratchet I00 when cycling stops. Finger I66 has portion I61 riding onthe top surface of cam I 53 to steady the finger. [Fingers I65 and I66 are carried by arm I and are biasedinwardly toward the spindle by spring I II extending between a pin on arm I10 and a pin Arm H0 is pivoted at I-"HI by a pin carried by the motor board and extending below the same. Arm- I10 is part of a bell crank lever whose other arm Il'5 terminates in bent feeler I16. Bent feeler I16 is adapted to be engaged by pin 56 carried by member 45.. The relative disposition oifeeler I16 with respect to the normal position of pin 46 is such that when the tonearm reached a predetermined minimum distance from the spindle or center of the record, pin 06 will engage feeler I75 and rock the bell crank. This will result in fingers I65 and I66 being moved outwardly to clear detent I30 and initiate a changer cycle.

A changer cycle may be initiated at any; time, irrespective of the tone arm position, by reject button I70 operating in slot I19 in the motor board and attached to arm I80. Arm I80 is maintained in position underneath the motor board bystrap IBI riveted to the motor board and bent around arm I80. Arm I80 has bent end I82 extending around arm I10} Upon movement of reject button I-I-8 outwardly to the edge of the motor board; bent end I82 will engage arm I10 and move the bell. crank out. Reject arm I-80 is normally maintained in an idle position b spring I93 extending between a pin on arm I80 and a suitable pin on the motor board. Referring now to eccentric ring I60, tail piece I6I is connected to arm I85 by pivot I86. Arm I85 is pivoted at well II by king pivot pin I90. evident in Figures '7 and 16, arm I85 is bent so that portion I9I at the king pivot pin is disposed opposite to top face of well II. The arm then extends upwardly and downwardly to form generally shaped U-shaped portion I92 where rivet I86 is disposed. Portion 1920f the arm extends through aperture I93 in well I I (Figures 7, 14 and 16) and emerges below the motor board. Portion I94 of arm I85 is pivotally secured atIQE to lever I96 which, in turn, ispivotally secured at I 97 to crank I 98 rigidly attached to pin GI (Figure 4) Pivotedat king pivot pin I96 above portion I9I is arm 200. This arm is moved by' ear 20I (Figure 3) extending up from portion I9I and disposed on one side of arm 200. Arm- 200 is bent downwardly to pass through a slot in well I I and flares to provide slotted portion 202. Slotted portion 202 carried cam 202 of the shape shown in Figure 5. This camis so shaped that upon movement of slotted portion 202 clockwise as seen 8. in Figure 3, 'cani202 is moved to the leftas seen in Figure 5 and thus forces pin 39' upwardly for elevatingthe tone arm. 7

Beyond slotted portion 202 isguiding edge 203 adapted to ride in slot 5| of pin 50 (Figure 4). Guide 203: has. suitable s'top'means at the two ends to. limit the angular travel of the slotted portion. Arm 200 has attached thereto, at a suit able spot, spring 205 extending between it and. the side. of the motor: board, thisspring tending to maintain thearm so that it bearsag'ainst gear 20I. Iniorder to adapt a changeri for selective op:- eration' on 10 or 12' inch records, disk 96' (Figures 2: and 3) has crankpin 201 to which is pivotally' attached lever 20B. Lever 208 is slidably retained against the bottom of well II by strap 2I0'. Lever 208 is pivoted at 2I I to arm 2I2 piv-. otally secured below the motor board at 2I3; Lever 2I2 has its free end portion shaped as: a finger to provide two spaced rests 2I4 and 2I5 respectively- Cooperating. with these rests is pin 2I6 (Figure 6), carried by arm 2II. Arm 2II extends through a slotrin well II and is bent to provide a portion for pivotally mounting onking. pivot pin I90. Collar bushing 2I9 between arm 200 and 2H isprovided to permit relative movement of the arms. 1

Arm 2I'I has its free end in the path of travel of pin 46 and is free to move around king pivot pin' I90. However, arm 2H is biased by spring 220 extending between a portion of the" motor board and the lever arm. Pivoted at king pin I90 and. above" arm 2I'I' is arm 225 rigidly joined to arm I by ear 226 extending between the two. Arm 225 carried spring 220 extending to one side of the arm toward pin 46'. Washer 221 above arm 225 is provided to maintain the arms in assembled position. The pivot pin maybe removably' secured to' the baseboard in any suitable manner. 1

Arm 225 is' normally adapted to be in the position shown in Figure 3. When the changer" begins to cycle, this armmoves clockwise around kingv pin I90. At the same time, the tone arm is elevated by cam 202'. As arm 225' moves clockwise, spring 228approaches pin 46 and after reaching the pin spring 226 will be bent back. This will occur because of the efiect of spring .220 upon arm 2I'I. When arm 2225 actually touches pin 46 and pin 46 bears against arm 2I'I, the tone arm will be at the outer groove of the record Further movement of arm 225 in a clockwise direction results in pin 46 being moved still further and arm 21-1 being moved in a clockwise direction against the bias of spring220; This will cause pin M6 to' clear rest 2I5. The movement of arm 2 IT in a clockwise direction will correspond to the movement of the tonearm 7 beyond the edge of the record and ingeneralwill be sufiicient'to permit the tone arm to clear any record dropping down upon theturntable. I

When arm 225 starts to reverse and moves counter-clockwise back toward the position shown in Figure 3, the tone arm. will be moved back toward the record edge. As long as pin 46 is caught between arm 225 and arm 2I'I,. the tone arm will be beyond the outer groove of the record. During return movement of arm 225, spring. 220 moves arm 2|! so that this arm tends to follow pin 46. However, when arm 2II reaches the position shown in Figure 3 so that pin 2 I6 is caught by fingerrest 2I5 then the following action occurs. Arm 211 remains stationaryin the position shown in Figure .3. As arm 225 retreats counter-clockwise, spring 228 is released while bearing against pin 46. Inasmuch as the load for tone arm movement is small, spring 228 bearing against pin 46 will keep the tone arm stationary for a short time in spite of the retreat of arm 225. Inthis position of the tone arm, the needle is above the outer groove of the record and during the time that the tone arm is thus poised in position, cam 202 drops the tone arm until the needle engages the record. Thereafter arm 225 continues to retreat and leaves pin 46 clear as shown in Figure 3. I I

In the event that a different size record is to be played, turning of record engaging part 93 will move arm 2I2 and dispose rest 2 in the path of travel of pin 2I6.

The operation of the entire record changer will be briefly reviewed. Assuming that motor 30 is energized turntable 26 will revolve in a clockwise direction as seen in Figures 1 and 3. Let it be assumed that reject button I18 has just been moved to initiate a changer cycle. The movement of reject button I18 will rock arm I10 on pivot I14. Fingers I65 and I66 will thereupon be moved clear of detent I30. The mechanism will then be in the condition shown in Figure 3. This will permit detent I30 to move inwardly to the full line position shown in Figure 11. In this position, a driving engagement between plate I28 and ratchet wheel I40 will occur. As previously described, this driving engagement will result in rotation of eccentric I53 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 12. Rotation of eccentric I53 will cause ring I60 to be moved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Figure 12 and back again to the full line position.

Oscillation of ring member I60 will result in an oscillation of arm I85 around king pin I90.

Referring to Figure 3, when arm I85 is initially moved away from the center of the turntable, lever I96 is moved down toward arm 45. This results in movement of arm I98 counter-clock-' wise with respect to pin 6|. This. moves record feed member 10 clockwise to begin a record feed cycle.

At the same time the initial movement of arm I85 releases arm 200 to move in a clockwise direction. This results in cam 202 moving to the left as seen in Figure and begin elevating the tone arm.

The initial movement of arm I05 also moves arm 225 in a clockwise direction and as pointed out previously results in turning the tone arm outwardly away from the center of the record. Upon return movement of ring I60, arm I85 moves back toward the center of the turntable. This causes record selecting member I0 to move in a counter-clockwise direction back to its original position, the bottom record in the stack having been dropped. As arm 200 returns to its initial position, arm 225 is returning to its position to disposethe tone arm so that the needle is poised above the edge of a record. It is understood that the timing is so arranged that the tone arm reaches its position above the edge of a record before the tone arm is permitted to drop into playing position.

When a complete changer cycle has occurred, fingers I65 and I66 will be disposed at flat portion I51 and detent I30 will also come around so that the end of the detent is above flat portion I51. When this occurs, fingers I65 and I66 will move inwardly in response to the bias of spring Ill and '10 move the detent outwardly to a position where tooth I33 isclear of ratchet wheel I40.

When the needle reached a center portion of the record, pinlfi will bear against finger portion I16 and cause fingers I 65 and I66 to be released from detent I30. It is evident that this type of a release depends upon the fact that the tone arm needle reaches a predetermined inner position and is not dependent upon rocking of the tone arm back and forth by the inner eccentric grooves usually provided in records.

What is claimed is:

1, An automatic record changer comprising a motor board, a record spindle supported on said board, a turntable supported on said boardwith the axis of the turntable coincident with the spin dle axis, a motor. drive for said turntable, a, sun gear surrounding said spindle and freely rotatable with respect thereto. a ratchet wheel carried on said turntable, a pawl carried by said sun gear, spring means for biasing said pawl to a ratchet wheel engaging position, locking means operative to maintain said pawl against its bias free of said ratchet wheel when said changer is not cycling, means for disabling said locking means to initiate and maintain a changer cycle, at least one planetary gear meshing with said sun gear and movable around the sun gear axis, a plate coupled to said planetary gear and movable with the axis of said planetary gear around the sun gear axis, astationary ring gear meshing with said planetary gear, said plate including a cam surface normally having a predetermined orientation with respect to the pawl when'said changer is at rest, said locking means 2.130611 gaging said cam surface on said plate when said changer is idle, said plate and sun gear revolving around the sun gear. axis durin changer mo've ment at different rates, said plate being adapted to rotatewith said planetary gear axis during changer operation, and means for feeding a rece ord from a stack to said turntable fromsaid plate movements during a changer-cycle, whereby after a changer cycle has been initiated, said changer cycle is determined by said pawl and cam surface of said plate again reaching a predetermined orientation.

2. An automatic record changer comprising a motor board, a record spindle supported on said board, a turntable supported on said board coaxially with said spindle, a motor drive for said turntable, a sun gear coaxial with said turntable, but rotatable with respect thereto, a ratchet wheel carried by said turntable, a pawl carried by said sun gear, means for biasing said pawl to a ratchet engaging position, a tone arm, locking means for maintaining said pawl in a disengaged position against its bias, means controlled by said tone arm for disabling said disengaging means to initiate a changer cycle, a planetary gear meshin with said sun gear and movable around the same, an eccentric secured to said planetary gear and movable with said gear axis around the sun gear axis, a stationary ring gear meshing with said planetary gear, an eccentric ring for said eccentric, said eccentric havin a cam with a cam surface normally aligned with a portion of said pawl when said changer is idle. said locking means also engaging said cam surface on said cam plate when said changer is idle, said cam surface and pawl portion having a differential rotation around said turntable axis during changer operation, said cam surface and pawl portion determining a changer cycle while 1. they are out'foj coincidence and means for feed ing a record from aistackto said turntable by movement derived fromsaid eccentricr ing.

3L automatic: record changer comprising a nfioter board, a stationary record spindle mounted on said board, two record engaging portions mounted at diametrically opposite points on said board beyond said turntable, saidspindle having'a portion offset awayfrcm one record engaging portion toward the other record engaging portiomsaid one record engaging *portion' comprising the following: a pair of generally horizontal 'steppedannular ledges, the lower ledge being-nearer the spindle and having a generally arcuate louter edge, the upper ledge havin -the leading portion thereof narrow and the remaining portion wider with an intermediate tapering portion; the step between the two ledges being generally perpendicular to the ledges and less than'the thickness of a record, means for mounting'said' onefportion'to oscillate about a generally vertical axis durin cycling with the ledges being generally horizontal, said one port-ion normally being in a position so that the bottom record: of astack rests upon the leading portion of the lower-ledgewiththe edge of the bottom record bearin 'against theleading part of the step, said bottom record bein adapted t be moved toward the spindle by the step-when said one. portion begins to turn in one direction with said bottom' ledge dropping said record while theewider portion of the upper ledge slides under the record'above the bottom; said other record engaging portion-compri-sing a member having a generally horizontal notch into which the edge of thebcttom record only may enter, said member having a generally verticalnotch and a spring pressed finger in said vertical notch bearing down and tending to close said horizontal notch but being adapted to beliftedagainst its bias by the edge of Msaid entering record, said horizontal notch being enough to accommodate comfortablythe thickness of a single record.

A. The changer according to claim 3 wherein said two record engaging portions have mounting means fforbringing them'cl'oser' to said spindle whereby 12 or 10 inch records respectively may be accommodated;

'5." The changer "according to claim 3 wherein said one record engaging portion is provided with eccentric mountin means to permit said one red- 0rd engaging portionto be turned 360' degrees to bring the same nearer to or further from said spindle for'12 or which records respectively and wherein said other record engaging portioncom prises an eccentrically mounted member, said member having the slots and fingers on two sides thereof and being' adapt'ed to'prese'nt one 'orxthe other side toward-said spindle'toaccommodate 12 or 10 inch records. 6. The changer according to claim 3 wherein a planetary gear drive is provided'between said motor board and'saidl one record engaging portion for oscillating the latter. f 7. The changer according to claim 3' wherein a'planetary' gear assembly is provided around said spindle, said planetary gear assembly hav ing arpower drive from said turntable, an eccentric operated by said planetary gear drive and means. for oscillating said one record engaging portion from said eccentric.

ALBERT W. ALBRECHT.

JAMES MASTNE'Y.

GATE. I

' BEFEREN.CES'CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: .7

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,228,145 Sundh Maj '29, 1917 2,062,396 Carson Dec. 1, 1936 2,270,415 'Catucci Jan; 20,1942 2,299,633 Knox et a1. 'Oct. 20, I942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Norway Dec lil, 1945 

